how often do you go to confession?

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rkberlin

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Hi, I know, this has probably been asked numerous times already, but maybe I missed it, so sorry if this pops up again. I went to confession today, last time was Ash Wednesday, Father gave me the impression like " wow, this was just a few weeks ago, but ok, go ahead…" I mean, he was nice, but I kind of felt like he thought it was unnecessary. Now, i told my kids we should at least go during Lent and Advent, so twice a year. Where did i get this piece of wisdom from, though? I have no clue. Is there something somewhere saying that? I was brought up that we should go whenever we feel we’ve committed a grave sin, or at least twice a year for the seasons mentioned above. Am I passing on something wrong here? I know some folks go to confession on a weekly basis, how do your priests react? I know our junior priest loves it when you go often, but our pastor doesn’t seem to be all that impressed with it. Only reason I went to him- as I’m ashamed to say- is because I know he lets you “off the hook” easier and- main reason- he isn’t in the confessional which I absolutely dread. He does open confession face to face, I feel more relaxed and not panicky this way, last thing I need is a panic attack during confession because of the confined space. So, how often should we go, and how often do you all go? God bless

rkberlin
 
Well, I usually go once a month. But it is not uncommon for people to go every week.

I once went three or four weeks in a row, and there were some of the same people in line every week. And every time I go, those same people are always there. Good for them, making time to go every week.
 
I go every one to two weeks, but there have been occasions where I have gone after only a few days!
 
I go at least once per month. I have gone week by week before in the past. I personally don’t find confession that hard to go to anymore. In fact I actually like it.
 
My wife, our two gradeschool-aged children and I go to confession as a family activity about once a month. The kids are often reluctant, but we stress the importance of it.

I, too, have encountered more than one priest who acts like I don’t really need to be there as I’m not confessing something really horrible. This does tend to discourage me, but I’m not giving up.

Regular confession is a way of, “weeding the garden” before the sin plants get to big, choking out all that is good and noble. It’s good to keep the garden of our souls healthy. The graces received in regular reception of this sacrament keep us strong, and keep us from serious sin.

Blessings… - Rob
 
I go as often as I can. If I am living at home with my parents, I can get a ride to my parish and go to confession before Mass every week. I did that this past summer. Now that I am in school, it isn’t as easy. I go about every 3 weeks to every month.
Rob in Oregon:
Regular confession is a way of, “weeding the garden” before the sin plants get to big, choking out all that is good and noble. It’s good to keep the garden of our souls healthy. The graces received in regular reception of this sacrament keep us strong, and keep us from serious sin.
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Good analogy.
 
I usually go every 3 months…sometimes more.
I came back to the church 2 years ago and had been away from confession for 15-20 years…talk about a nervous wreck!
I usually look back at all those years and find something I forgot to confess:(
that always keeps me coming back:p
Just on Sat I walked in and knelt down and said…bless me father for I have sinned it’s been 3 months since my last confession and he said…my dear…did you shut the door? I looked behind me and sure enuff…I did and it was wide open:o good thing I hadn’t got to my sins yet:eek:
 
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Kelly:
I go every one to two weeks, but there have been occasions where I have gone after only a few days!
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Same here, including the occasionally going after a few days :o
Not always to the same priest, but I’ve never had a negative response to it, in fact one or two very positive ones. If anything surely the priest is going to appreciate that your confession is shorter than average 👍

I really don’t like the idea that a priest would find fault with frequent confession. If they do just remind them that Mother Theresa went every single DAY, and JP2 three times a week.
 
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rkberlin:
Now, i told my kids we should at least go during Lent and Advent, so twice a year. Where did i get this piece of wisdom from, though?
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Once a year is one of the precepts of the Catholic Church…something we were taught during religious ed…along with some of those other things we ‘know’ but can’t recall when we came to know it or why…

Here are the precepts from the Catechism:

2041 The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to and nourished by liturgical life. The obligatory character of these positive laws decreed by the pastoral authorities is meant to guarantee to the faithful the indispensable minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor:

2042 The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.”) requires the faithful to participate in the Eucharistic celebration when the Christian community gathers together on the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord.[82]

The second precept (“You shall confess your sins at least once a year.”) ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.[83]

The third precept (“You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.”) guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.[84]

2043 The fourth precept (“You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.”) completes the Sunday observance by participation in the principal liturgical feasts which honor the mysteries of the Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the saints.[85]

The fifth precept (“You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.”) ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts; they help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.[86]

The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.[87]
 
I just don’t get it. I’ve got pages worth of stuff in my head for my first confession (for the most part, mortal, I believe) and yet I never see more than 5 or so people decline to receive communion on at any given mass in my overflowing parish. Either I’m a bad person or the “examining your conscience” guide I got is severe.:eek:
 
Varies with what I am going through at a particular time in my life.

Could be weekly, monthy, six-monthly, or … daily… it all depends… and I’m not the only one…

This is another issue worth raising with a personal spiritual director.

It would appear that most if not all confessors frown on the idea of a written laundry list… *

It’s not supposed to be torture!*
 
I felt like going to confession every day last week…Sheesh.
 
When I was reading Raymond Arroyo’s biography of Mother Angelica, he described how she stated the need for weekly or daily confession during construction of one of the buildings… evidently, she frequently took exception to certain construction procedures…

She also said she understood why some of the great saints who were noted for their “activism” also said they needed daily confession.
 
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Brian_C:
I just don’t get it. I’ve got pages worth of stuff in my head for my first confession (for the most part, mortal, I believe) and yet I never see more than 5 or so people decline to receive communion on at any given mass in my overflowing parish. Either I’m a bad person or the “examining your conscience” guide I got is severe.:eek:
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I like to go at least monthly. Sometimes more, sometimes less. When I go much over a month, I feel pretty bad, like a sick person failing to go to the Doctor. Then once I go, I feel healed.

I don’t get it either, Brian. I’m really not a bad guy, but I still find no shortage of sins to pin on myself. It’s the same thing in my parish, too. Hundreds receive the precious Body of Christ, virtually everyone at mass, and it’s the same six or seven folks in line for confession, every week. I don’t think they are bad people, either, but it’s like we’re the only sinners out of thousands at my parish. Maybe all the rest aren’t lowly sinners like me, but still, they just don’t know what they’re missin’.😉
 
well, see, that’s just it, too. I went to the penance service and they had confession right after. Of the 100 something people that attended the service, I’d say about 20 at the most lined up for confession. In fact, there seemed to be a serious exodus from the church once the service had ended…unfortunately, my older daughter was among them, running out like she’d been bit by a snake. I couldn’t get her to come back in. Well, anyway, thanks for all of your replies, I feel like I should go more often now…God bless
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Brian_C:
I just don’t get it. I’ve got pages worth of stuff in my head for my first confession (for the most part, mortal, I believe) and yet I never see more than 5 or so people decline to receive communion on at any given mass in my overflowing parish. Either I’m a bad person or the “examining your conscience” guide I got is severe.:eek:
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I’ve gone the last five days in a row… Although that is definately something im not proud of… i sometimes feel like i abuse the sacrament by going so often but i dont know how to stop sinning… anyway, it feels good to go often but then again when your priest scolds you and tells you to go less often its a little humiliating… But then again, humility is a virtue. Sorry for rambling, but the best of saints went often (mother Theresa and Pope John Paul II) although they arent officially saints yet they are very saintly. I also heard that a good confession is better than an excorcism so therefore it must be good to go often. That was said by the head excorcist in Rome.
 
Once in a while I get into a pastoral or moral disagreement with someone who professes his love and commitment to the Catholic faith. I like to ask, “When’s the last time you went to confession?”
The dissenters are quite often taken aback by my question, and can only fumble excuses.

I’d also like to ask media personalities Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity, who profess their Catholic faith on the air, when they last went. I like their programs, but wonder how committed they really are. I’ll bet convert Laura Ingraham HAS been to confession recently. Forgive my digression…

Blessings… - Rob in Oregon
 
I’m hoping to go once a month or more often, if needed.

At my age and my with lifestyle, I should be able to stay straight with the exception of some pesky venial sins. I’m reluctant to go more often because of the priest shortage and taking up valuable time that more needy people need. I hope to receive communion weekly.
 
I really value confession but I can’t seem to get myself to go mroe than couple times a year. I can’t even imagine going once a month. Does anybody think it might be because I’m a teen?

Then again I’m not an atheist, not agnostic, I really do believe in the Sacraments. I just find confession repetetive because I do the same sins all the time.

As for panic attacks, I hate having confession face to face (except with this one really kind priest who turns confession into a conversation also- he does most of the talking). I’d rather much go to confession without having the priest giving you that half-guilty half-compassionate look. I also hate it when the priest expects you to do all the talking. I’m going so I can hear words of wisdom and advice.

Does anybody notice the placements of the lights in the confessional?

When the light is on in your cubicle, that means the priest can see you through the screen unless he’s covering his face with his hand like they sometimes do.

If the light is on in the priest’s cubicle, then you could see the priest and it is hard for him to see you. One church I know of has the light bulb on in the penitent’s cublicle and when you look up all you see if black beyond the screen so you don’t know if the priest can see you or not.
 
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